DAY 2
AM: Dragon Hill
Land iguanas and the flamingo lagoons are two of the highlights of this site. Feral dogs once nearly eliminated the iguanas, but the Galapagos National Park removed them in 1990, and the reptiles seem to be making a comeback. The trail (3km/2 miles round trip) leads through dry-zone vegetation to a small hill where the iguanas live. The area is home to Galapagos mockingbirds, Darwin´s finches, varieties of the endemic Opuntia and candelabra cacti, and Galapagos cotton.
The small offshore island of Venecia is not open for landing, but land iguanas are easy to spot during the panga ride along its shore. These were protected as a breeding nucleus when the feral dogs threatened the main population at Dragon Hill.
Green turtles, sharks, and rays may be spotted on the panga ride, while black-necked stilts, white-cheeked pintails, and migratory shorebirds are usually present on the shoreline.
PM: Bachas Beach
The name Bachas comes from the local pronunciation of ‘barges,’ two of which were left by the American army on these shores after World War II. This visitor site has a delightful, long beach perfect for swimming or for taking a stroll to observe the wildlife. Behind the beach, there is a saltwater lagoon where is usual to find great blue herons and small waders such as sanderlings.
The beach is a nesting area for green sea turtles, which leave tracks in the sand after burying their eggs, especially from November to February.